Could We Lose the Whitecaps? The Law of Sports Relocation
About this Event
Thompson Rivers University Law professor breaks down the legal playbook of sports expansion and relocation — over drinks.
From the heartbreak of the Vancouver Grizzlies leaving town to recurring stadium battles over BC Place, Canadian sports fans know the anxiety all too well. We paint our faces and buy season tickets, but when billionaire owners want leverage, fan loyalty never makes the balance sheet.
What does it actually take for an owner to pack up and move? Major sports leagues operate like legal monopolies, using relocation threats to extract hundreds of millions in tax dollars and prime real estate. Join TRU Law Professor Ryan Gauthier to uncover how franchise law works behind closed doors, why cities keep paying for stadiums, and whether fans or city halls can ever truly stop a team from leaving.
Every Sip Smarter talk includes a 45-minute lecture followed by an open Q&A over drinks.
DATE
Thursday, November 26th, 2026
LOCATION
The Canadian Brewhouse, 1200 Summit Dr, Unit 100, Kamloops
TIME
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Talk runs 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
SPEAKER
Ryan Gauthier is a Professor at Thompson Rivers University’s Faculty of Law. He examines issues related to sports law, particularly in the areas of human rights and integrity. In recent years, Ryan has examined sports governance in Canada, risks to the respecting of human rights of eSport competitors, and governance issues related to the public financing of stadiums. Ryan also compares North American and European approaches to sports law.
Ryan was the Director of the Oregon Summer Sports Law Institute from 2022-2025. He is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association, and an executive of the Canadian Bar Association (BC)’s sports law section. Ryan is a member of the BC Law Society, and remains a non-practicing member of the New York Bar.
"The only thing better than learning is the conversation after."
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
CAD 25.83 to CAD 36.48
